Hyundai Motor CEO visits Latin American, Caribbean countries to win Expo bid

Chang Jae-hoon, left, CEO of Hyundai Motor, meets with Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis at the prime minister's office in Nassau, the Bahamas on Oct. 26 (local time) to gain support to host the World Expo 2030 in Busan. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group

By Kim Hyun-bin

Hyundai Motor CEO Chang Jae-hoon visited Latin American and Caribbean countries including the Bahamas, Paraguay and Chile to drum up support for Busan to host World Expo 2030, according to the company, Wednesday.

Chang met with President Mario Abdo, Foreign Minister Julio Cesar Ariola and Vice Minister of Commerce Pedro Mancuello Perez of the presidential palace in Asuncion, Paraguay on Oct. 28, and requested support and cooperation with Busan's bid to host the World Expo.

He also held meetings with high-ranking officials of the Bahamian government, including Prime Minister Philip Davis, Minister of Works and Utilities Alfred Michael Sears and Director General of Foreign Affairs Rhoda Jackson at the prime minister's office in Nassau, the Bahamas, on Oct. 26, where he promoted Busan's competitiveness.

The next day, he visited the offices of the Ministry of Economy in Santiago, Chile, and met with Salvatore di Giovanni, head of the Chilean Investment Promotion Division, and managing director Karla Flores.

Chang also exchanged broad opinions on ways to cooperate with Hyundai Motor Group, emphasizing the company's global leadership in electric vehicles (EV) and fuel cell EVs, and discussed ways to cooperate in the development of eco-friendly energy such as in the supply of eco-friendly vehicles and the establishment of infrastructure.

The CEO also discussed the possibility of social contribution projects such as education and culture, medical support and healthcare services for the development of the local community in the countries he visited.